Tai Chi Improves Health-related Quality of Life in People with Elevated Blood Glucose or Diabetes
November 26, 2012 -
This is a study performed by the University of Queensland in Brisbane,
Australia. It is published in the November 2012 issue of Quality of Life
Research.

PURPOSE: The aim was
to assess the effects of a Tai Chi-based program on health-related quality of
life (HR-QOL) in people with elevated blood glucose or diabetes who were not on
medication for glucose control.

METHOD: 41
participants were randomly allocated to either a Tai Chi intervention group (N =
20) or a usual medical-care control group (N = 21). The Tai Chi group involved 3
× 1.5 h supervised and group-based training sessions per week for 12 weeks.
Indicators of HR-QOL were assessed by self-report survey immediately prior to
and after the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS: The
findings show that this Tai Chi program improved indicators of HR-QOL including
physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain and vitality in people with
elevated blood glucose or diabetes who were not on diabetes medication.